| 
              
                
				 (Copy) 
              
                Illinois country grain prices were 
				sharply higher on Friday afternoon. The USDA's confirmation of 
				the sale of 1.56 million tonnes of US corn helped to boost corn 
				prices. The sale of 1.44 million tonnes to an unknown destination was the largest sale of the group. Several sales of 
				US soybeans to China helped to support higher soybean prices.
 
 In Northern and Western Illinois country grain dealers quoted 
				shelled corn bids 13 to 21 cents higher at 6.42-6.54. Soybean 
				bids traded mostly 13 to 16 cents higher at 14.65-14.90.
 
 In Central Illinois country grain dealers quoted shelled corn 
				bids were mostly 18 to 20 cents higher at 6.36-6.50. Soybean 
				bids were 13 to 16 cents higher at 14.71-14.85.
 
 In the Southern part of the state, shelled corn bids were 23 to 
				27 cents higher at 6.51-6.69. Soybean bids were 16 to 17 cents 
				higher at 14.80-15.02. Wheat bids were 16 to 17 cents higher at 
				6.26-6.48.
 
 Illinois grains- Grain futures ended mixed this week, with 
				soybeans sharply higher, wheat slightly higher and corn lower.
 
              
                This week seemed to be all about 
				soybeans, export news, rumors about Chinese export interest, the 
				South American soybean crop getting smaller and strong gains in 
				soybean meal. 
				 
              
              
 
              
                Weekly export sales were over 
				trade expectations on Thursday, with sales of 1.409 million 
				metric tonnes of soybeans. Also on Thursday, the Buenos Aires 
				Cereals Exchange lowered their expectations for the Argentine 
				soybean crop from 44 million metric tonnes last week to 43 
				million metric tonnes. 
				 
              
                This week has also seen a strong 
				rally in soybean meal. If the South American crop keeps getting 
				smaller, some traders believe this could limit the exporting of 
				soybean meal from that country. The 48% soybean meal from 
				Central Illinois Soybean Processors, on a cash basis, as of 
				Thursday has been up $35.90 to $37.90 per ton from last 
				Thursday. Central Illinois bids for 48% soybean meal ranged from 
				$411.80 to $421.80 per ton.
 In the Illinois Weather and Crops update released Monday by the 
				USDA's NASS Illinois Field Office, estimated that Illinois 
				farmers had planted 59% of the state's corn crop, compared to 
				41% last week and 10% last year. Most areas of the state are 
				62-80% complete, with the northern regions of
 Illinois 30-40% done.
 
              
                Soybean planting has officially 
				started with 5% of the state's crop in the ground, compared to 
				2% last week and less than 1% last year. Most of those soybeans 
				are planted in the southwest region of the state as they are 28% 
				done. 
				 
              
                The Illinois wheat crop continues 
				to be in great shape and ahead of most years in maturity. This 
				week, the crop placed 84% in the good to excellent category, 
				with 15% fair and only 1% poor. There was also 55% of the crop 
				headed, compared to 40% last week and 1% for the five year 
				average. Many believe farmers will be able to start the wheat 
				harvest in early June this year.
 The trading in the cash grain market was moderate.
 
              
                The rally in soybeans had cash 
				soybeans near or at the 15.00 mark at several grain terminals in 
				the southern parts of the state. This was another trigger point 
				for some producers to make some sales of cash soybeans. 
				 
              
                Basis for both cash and new crop 
				corn and soybeans has been stronger this week, with improvements 
				noted at both processors and river terminals. 
				 
              
                
				 
              
                At the Central Illinois Soybean 
				Processors cash bids ended 66 to 67 cents higher at 14.81-14.94, 
				with basis steady to 1 cent higher at option K to +13K. 
				 
              
                The Central Illinois Corn 
				Processors cash bids were mixed with bids ranging from 6.30-6.50 
				with basis steady to 8 cents higher at +23N to +43N. 
				 
              
                At the Illinois River terminals 
				south of Peoria, cash corn bids ended 5 to 8 cents higher ranging from 6.37-6.45, with basis up 2 to 5 cents at +13K to 
				+21K.
 
              
                Cash soybean bids gained 68 to 71 
				cents at 14.86-14.90, with basis 2 to 5 cents higher at +5K to 
				+9K. 
				 
              
                New crop corn bids for October 
				delivery were down 3 to 6 cents to range from 5.07-5.11, with 
				basis steady to 3 cents higher at -28Z to -24Z.
 
              
                New crop soybean bids advanced 21 
				to 26 cents to 13.40-13.43, with basis 5 to 10 cents higher 
				ranging from -18X to -15X. 
				 
              
                New crop wheat bids for July 2012 
				delivery were 14 to 15 cents higher ranging from 6.25-6.35, with 
				basis up 9 to 10 cents ranging from -10N to option N.  
              
                [to top of second column] | 
              
				 
              
                At the Illinois River terminals 
				north of Peoria, cash corn bids gained 7 to 8 cents at 
				6.37-6.41, with basis 4 to 5 cents higher at +13K to +17K.
				
			 
              
                Cash soybean bids increased 69 
				cents to 14.84-14.87, with basis 3 cents higher at +3K to +6K.
 
              
                New crop corn bids for October 
				delivery ended 3 to 4 cents lower at 5.06-5.09, with basis 2 to 
				3 cents higher ranging from -29Z to -26Z. 
			 
              
                New crop soybean bids gained 18 to 
				19 cents to 13.32-13.35, with basis 2 to 3 cents higher at -26X 
				to -23X. 
			 
              
                New crop wheat bids were up 5 
				cents to 6.30-6.31, with basis unchanged at -5N to -4N. 
			 
              
                At the St. Louis terminals cash 
				corn bids were 3 to 5 cents higher at 6.51-6.54, with soybeans 
				up 68 to 69 cents from 15.05-15.07. 
			 
              
                Cash bids for Soft Red Winter 
				wheat gained 2 cents to 6.49-6.50, with cash sorghum bids down 2 
				cents to range from 5.98-5.99. 
 In northern and western Illinois, cash corn bids to producers at 
				country elevators were 3 to 6 cents higher at 6.07-6.21, with 
				central Illinois locations mixed at 6.11-6.33 and in southern 
				Illinois bids gained 1 cent to range from 6.24-6.46.
 
              
                Cash soybean bids in northern and 
				western were up 62 to 66 cents at 14.56-14.64 with central 
				Illinois bids gaining 64 to 66 cents to 14.58-14.69 and southern 
				Illinois increased 61 to 64 cents at 14.63-14.86. 
			 
              
                Cash wheat bids for Soft Red 
				Winter wheat in southern Illinois locations ended 3 to 6 cents 
				higher to range from 6.10-6.29.
 New crop corn bids to producers at the country elevators in 
				northern and western Illinois were 6 cents lower to range from 
				4.90-5.05, with central Illinois locations down 6 cents at 
				4.98-5.08 and in southern Illinois bids fell 5 to 7 cents to 
				5.05-5.16.
 
              
                New crop soybean bids for October 
				delivery in northern and western Illinois were 17 cents higher 
				at 13.10-13.24, with central Illinois locations up 18 to 21 
				cents to 13.18-13.29 and in southern Illinois bids gained 20 to 
				23 cents at 13.21-13.40. 
			 
              
                New crop wheat bids for July 2012 
				delivery in southern Illinois ended steady to 7 cents higher at 
				6.11-6.34. 
			 
              
                
				 
              
                ___ 
              
                Commercial grain prices paid farmers 
				by Interior Illinois Country Elevators after 2.00 p.m. Friday
				are listed below in dollars per bushel: 
				
					| 
					AREA   | 
					US 2  
					CORN  | 
					US 1  
					SOYBEANS | 
					 US 2  
					SOFT  
					WHEAT   |  
					| NORTHERN | 6.42 - 6.54 | 14.65 - 14.73 |  |  
					| WESTERN | 6.43 - 6.50 | 14.76 - 14.90 |  |  
					| N. CENT. | 6.36 - 6.47 | 14.74 - 14.83 |  |  
					| S. CENTRAL | 6.43 - 6.50 | 14.71 - 14.85 |  |  
					| WABASH | 6.51 - 6.69 | 14.80 - 14.88 | 6.27 - 6.35 |  
					| W.S. WEST | 6.53 - 6.62 | 14.89 - 15.02 | 6.31 - 6.48 |  
					| L. EGYPT | 6.52 - 6.65 | 14.87 - 15.01 | 6.26 - 6.42 |  
              
                Central Illinois average price 
			 
              
                Corn: 6.43 (-10 K)Soybeans: 14.78 (-19 K)
 
 CONTRACT BIDS FOR NEW CROP 2012 DELIVERY
 
				
					| 
					AREA   | 
					US 2  
					CORN  | 
					US 1  
					SOYBEANS | 
					 ***US 
					2  
					SOFT  
					WHEAT   |  
					| NORTHERN | 4.96 - 5.10 | 13.15 - 13.20 |  |  
					| WESTERN | 4.90 - 5.02 | 13.16 - 13.27 |  |  
					| N. CENT. | 5.01 - 5.10 | 13.21 - 13.32 |  |  
					| S. CENTRAL | 5.03 - 5.17 | 13.22 - 13.32 |  |  
					| WABASH | 5.14 - 5.24 | 13.27 - 13.32 | 6.26 - 6.37 |  
					| W.S. WEST | 5.10 - 5.16 | 13.32 - 13.42 | 
					6.43 - 6.56 |  
					| 
					L. EGYPT | 
					5.17 - 5.20 | 
					13.24 - 13.35 | 
					6.25 - 6.42 |  
			***June/July 2012 Delivery   
			Cent. Ill. Average Price at Country 
			Elevators 
				
					| Week of | 4/26/2012 | 4/19/2012 |  
					|  | Price Basis | Price Basis |  
					| Corn |  6.22  -2K | 6.21 1/2 + 1/2 K |  
					| Soybeans | 14.63 1/2   -18K | 13.98 1/2 -17 1/2 K  |  [Text copied from
			USDA-IL 
			Dept of Ag Market News, Springfield]
   
			
			 |